Ragsysmum

Cramp?

How much exercise does he get? If you take him for a decent walk before work, he should be able to empty completely and not need to go again for a while.

As others have said it's most likely just empty tummy syndrome. Give him a few small biscuits or a handful of his normal kibble right at bedtime so his tummy has something to work on through the night and you'll probably find he's just fine. With all the adoptees and fosters we've had over the years this has happened a few times in the early days, so now we just automatically give them a small amount of food at bedtime and have no problems these days.

Thinking of you.

Guess it also depends how long 'a few hours later' really is. Maybe she just can't wait that long but being in a crate, she has no alternative but to empty there.

So very sorry but setting him free is the last kind deed you can do for a treasured pet and every owner must be brave enough to do it. Not a day too long is the mantra we must all go by I think.

She sounds to be doing fine on the food you are giving.....just too much of it and the sensible girl is only eating what she needs. I'd stick to the same food but cut down a little on each meal until you reach the quantity you need for her to eat it all and maintain the same weight. Having said that, I've had some dogs that just didn't seem to want much in the mornings but were perfectly fit and healthy anyway..

Reckon I'd just stop the 'training' except for absolutely vital things and let him relax and gain some confidence in familiar and happy situations. Doesn't sound like he's ready for classes of any sort at the moment and your putting pressure on him is just making things worse. He needs to gain confidence in you and trying to make him do things which obvious upset him, won't achieve that. Why does he have to have all this training anyway. If you just praise him every time he does something good that you want him to do, in the normal course of his day, you'll be surprised how quickly he learns all sorts of useful things. JMHO

All mine sleep on dogs bed/duvets on the bedroom floor beside my bed and always have. None has ever tried to get onto the bed though and I wouldn't allow it anyway, but I like them in the bedroom so I know they are OK and can easily let them out on the rare occasion they happen to need it during the night.

If you walk her enough on rough hard surfaces, her nails will wear down naturally and save all the hassle and expense in the future.

Could you find out what they fed him during his racing career? Can't imagine he's been so loose all his life or he wouldn't have been fit enough to race I would have thought.

Maybe he just doesn't like sharing you and his home with your roommate.

Not a problem I've ever had over all the years of dogs, but I don't bother with commands or anything, just put the food down for each in turn and let them scoff it in peace undisturbed. Guess he feels stressed and worried you are going to remove the food or something. Eating is one of the few daily joys for a dog and I'd just let him enjoy it for a while until he is less stressed over the food situation. Shouting, getting in his face and grabbing his collar are all threatening and I would think will only escalate the situation. I often put my hand in their bowls to add extra bits of treats so they know if I come near when they are eating, it is a good thing and means something tasty is being added.

Was she walked at the kennels she came from? We have had several hounds from various places and some of them are used to walking a set distance out and back and seem to have that fixed in their heads. Our latest boy lived over 9 years in kennels before he came here and was walked a set distance out and back and still sees this as the 'right' thing to do. When he has gone 'the distance', done his two wees and a poo, he turns back to go home again if left to his own choice. Of course I encourage him to go further and in different directions and places, which he will do and seems to enjoy but if we walk offlead he always turns round and sets off back after a certain distance still, eighteen months on.

Try not to let him be too clingy in the first few days. Velcro dogs can be hard work if you don't break them of it from the start and help them develop confidence out of sight of you early on.

We had one which had lived in a small shed for eight years and was in poor physical and mental condition. He just stood where he was left and had to be led to his food, water, garden, bed etc. Though he recovered well physically, he was never 'normal' and stood staring into space a lot though he did learn to move to his food, bed, etc. Hopefully your girl is just shy and will come out of herself gradually with time and patience.

Hope Sid continues to do well and the corn does not return.

It can be very confusing! One of our greys will come for a stroke/cuddle and then turn his head away and lick his lips when you stroke him but as soon as you stop he leans in and nudges your hand to do it some more. He is always free to walk away but initiates the contact frequently himself, so I'm never quite sure what he really does want.

I'd leave her crate-free, move out of reach anything she has shown too much interest in previously, and see what happens. All of ours have had free run of the house from the day they arrived, some straight from kennels, and we have had no problems but they are never left for more than four hours.

Is that 9-10 hours on his own without a toilet break? If so, that is an awful long time to expect a dog to hold it through the day.

We have had one, two and three at various times. Depends on how the dog is and some have needed to be only dogs. At the moment we have two grey boys and two small crossbreed girls.

Maybe it's just stress. If he was alone all day for 10 hours and then you left him for another hour in the evening although he could hear you in the house, I think he just needed to be with you. Probably pacing around because he knew you were in the house but couldn't get to you, would make him need to empty. Sounds like he needs more quality time with you when you are actually in the house.

So very sorry for your losses.

Well said Silverfish. That's just how we go on with all the new foster dogs when they arrive.

Wishing continued speedy healing for this little one.